President Obama / Charles Dharapak, AP

by David Jackson, USA TODAY

by David Jackson, USA TODAY

As the Republican House considers what to do with the plan approved by the Democratic Senate, the White House on Tuesday released a "fact sheet" calling the proposal "a victory for middle class families and the economy."

The pitch is aimed as much at critical Democrats as others observers.

The text of the White House case:

"At this make or break moment for the middle class, the president achieved a bipartisan solution that keeps income taxes low for the middle class and grows the economy.

"For the first time in 20 years, Congress will have acted on a bipartisan basis to vote for significant new revenue. This means millionaires and billionaires will pay their fair share to reduce the deficit through a combination of permanent tax rate increases and reduced tax benefits.

"And this agreement ensures that we can continue to make investments in education, clean energy, and manufacturing that create jobs and strengthen the middle class.

"In 2011, the president cut spending. In 2012, he kept his promise of asking the wealthiest 2 percent of Americans to pay more while protecting 98 percent of families and 97 percent of small businesses from any income tax increase -- raising $620 billion in revenue.

"As we move forward to address our ongoing fiscal challenges, both spending cuts and continuing to ask the wealthy to do a little more will be part of a balanced approach. It is critical for our economy and future generations that we reduce the deficit.

"We cannot keep racking up this debt on our kids. And the president looks forward to working with Republicans to reduce the deficit in a balanced and bipartisan way."